SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 345, 20 February 1856, Page 7

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

UPON WHAT TBllSfa WILT, TUB ALLIES MAKE PEACE ? The following significant article on tiiis subject appears in the Press of the 2nd October :— " The present moment is critical. The aspect of the war is changim:. It is passing into a t)'?w pha: c ; and the country needs the guidance of its natural ieade>>. The time has come when our pui>lic men should declare their .sentiments on the political si;u.ition, and fulfil the noblest duty of statesmanship by directing the national sentiment to moderate, ju-t, and truly politic aims. We can now say that every object for wliich the war was originally undertaken has been conceded by negotiation or won by arms, Russia no longer claims those exclusive privileges which placed her in perpetual antagonism with the Turkish Government. She has resigned her claim to the guardianship of the Greek subjects of the Porte, and to the protectorate or' the principalities. She is willing1 to admit Turkey into the European system —a point i n itself of vital importance—-and to guarantee, in accord with the other contracting powers, the independence of its government and the integrity of its territory. She is also disposed to place the free navigation of the Danube under the supeiintendence of collective Europe. One obstacle oniv remained — the supremacy ot Russia in the Black Sea ; that supremacy is now destroyed. The last Russian ship has b-e:i sunk or burnt, and Sebastonol is in ruins. For what object is the war now to be continued ? To gratir'v a futile sense of honour, or to indulge those fi' i\:e pas'-i ins which the war has aroused ? Great obstacles may exi<! to peace. We do not di-<----gui^e their magnitude. Tiiev :nay arise from the .stubborn pride of our foe, nourished by defeat; fiom the popular elation of the allied States, r"U.;ed by victory ; from all the subtle points of privilege and interest inseparable from the anomalous noMtion of the Ottoman empire, and the noeu'iar of the B: ick Sea ; and, lastly, from the timidity or jealousies of politicians. But if the war is to continue for one or any of thusc'reasons, it will be a lasting disgrace to ihe salesmanship of Europe. England and France \\:\\e u> longrr an object in maintaining the war. They entered on it reluctantly, ami for a specific purpose —the defence i i" the Turkish empire. That purpose has been attained, (■ircimsianees niav render it absolutely noc.es- j sary for them to continue the contest ; they cannot force Russia to make pvace. but their policy must be, if they remain true to their original cause and profession*, 10 prosecute war only till 'satisfactory s ttMins of peace can oe j obtained. The reduction of the llus>ian E;npire was assuredly ne«er contemplated when ihrir alliance was formed. If iney pursue hostilitios for that end, its whole character is changed, (he Koropean svsiem is overthrown, and it is impossible to foresee the calainaties tv which their policy m;>v lead, or liie duration ami intensity of the stniL'^lo ii migiii produce. Wr saiil bi'loie, wlh-m thai clomi of war which no.v lianas over (he political world so iit'avily, was but a speck in the ho'i'/.on. that llu.-<sia ii.is her place in '.he European system. It is the reproach of English policy for the last thirty ve.rs that Russia was not innupelled I. keep wii'iin her proper limits. The timid dehivnei1 ol' I.ofil Ab"riieen, who never knew the stiongih of Kiigland U'>r i.n lerstooi't tht; Eiigiishch rictei, j aihi'-vcd her to ileii as she chose with Tti'koy; j and lor noarlv a quarter oi a ceniuiy .tl'tei w.irds, the aimless disquieting rule of Lord I'almorston iiavo streoirth and coiisisteiu-t! to her steadily pr(>grc-sive p liey in overv part of the world. The balance of Europe was seriously disturbed when Angina called a Russian army lo h«;L' usiisiuuce to suppress the insurrection

in Hungary she was unaided to quell herself. From that time the tranquilily of the East was seriously throat<'m:d. jhe danger exists no longer. Tin: Cxiri of St. Pt".f:rs'i>iiT<t ha* been taught, that there are limits which it wilt never he .suffered tn mv-rpass. The dream of conquering Constantinople lias heen rudely dispelled ; and whenever peace may be concluded, the boundary not only of Russian territory, but of Russian influence, wili he distinctly traced. Tiic task fur which we took up afms is accomplished. The power which England has exercised in ?he councils of Europe arises, in <rreat measure, from the confidence reposed in her justice and moderation. The statesmen of this country have never been favourable to wars of extremity, or wars of aggrandisement. Our policy from the first was not to nverthro'v, hut so m;iint:;in the balance of European sVuvor ; and we shall he faise to our principles and traditional policy if we continue a continental contest from any sentiment, of revenue, or any chimerical notion that we are called on to war against forms of jfovernment or existing European relations. Whatever difficulties may at present seem to beset terms of pacification, we are persuaded theie is a moderate party in each of the nations concerned sufficiently strontr to overcome them, if once persirided tnat peace is practicable, and that conciliatory proposals have only to be made to meet with cordial and sine-re response.1'

By way o! oontr.isj, we <jive tlio following from the Morning Herald of yesterday : —" We have endeavoured to impress upon die public mind tiuti the fall of Sebastopol wn« an idle triumph unless it led to the permanent expulsion of the Russians -from the Crimea. In the moment of victory we assayed the task of giving ]>ractical direction to the iiiitional triumph, and we heirijed of every Englishman tn mincrle with liis rejuicii)irs over trie do'wnfail of Sebastopol the vow that the Ciimea never should be Russinn ajriiin. We .ire confident that the more this waiter ix considered, the more apparent will be the justice and tiie necessiiv i.»f tiiis demand. It needs but to be canvassed tn enlist such an amount of Euro|ie;t:i opinion in its favour as to uink'i; it inipossi'"d:' for ihe (Tovernnptits either or' France or lviirland to bniv^- that opinion by inaijiiiir peace upon terms which wmiid aliow the Criaioa t;> be ever a it* in the oiirpost oi Russian a^irressi'Ui." — Guardian, Oct. 3.